Superman walked over to Vandal and picked him up before restraining him to make sure he wouldn't try anything, but while I was watching I didn't notice one of the scariest things alive approaching behind me. "Are you ok?", he asked causing me to turn around and see a man who I saw only once…and hoped to never see again. It was the Batman.
"Um, a-apart from creepy general guy over there", I stuttered pointing at Vandal, "I'm fine." He narrowed his eyes at me as if he was studying me before calling out, "Flash, look after him." The Flash immediately materialised by his side with a worried look on his face while Batman went to join Superman. "Aaron, are you ok?", he asked kneeling down. "I'm fine", I replied, "wait, how do you know my name?"
The Flash hesitated for a second before saying, "Um, Barry told me while we were looking for you." At the mention of his name, I remembered Barry on the other side of the phone. I quickly pulled out my phone and held it up to my ear before talking, "Barry, are you there? If you are, I'm safe the Justice League is- Wait." I noticed that my voice seemed to echo while talking on the phone. I quickly looked around while tapping on my phone while looking around before noticing the echo coming from the Flash. When I looked up, Flash had a bigger worry on his face as he realised what I was doing. I then tapped an area on his suit where the echo seemed to be the loudest. "Hey!", the Flash exclaimed in protest. I ignored him and found a pocket opening where I found something very surprising. Barry's phone!
"Why do you have Barry's phone?", I asked with increasing suspicion. The Flash now looked like he was panicking which was extremely unusual for him, he was one of the most cheerful superheroes ever. "Um, he let us borrow it so we could track your cellphone", he said. That's when a thought popped into my head. "Your voice", I noticed, "it sounds a lot like…Barry."
Realisation dawned on my face at the idea, he sounded like him, plus he had his phone.
Oh my God! Barry's the Flash!
"Uh…Umm", Flash said trying to give an explanation before lowering his head and pulling his cowl back to reveal Barry's face, "Hi Aaron." I couldn't believe it, the person who made me his ward just a few days ago, the person who seemed like an average man was the Flash. It was…it was…awesome. I grabbed him in a hug with a big smile on my face, "Oh my God, this is so cool!"
"Wait", Barry said, "so you're not mad or upset." I pulled back from the hug with a look of shock. "Of course I'm shocked", I replied, "but I'm not because you're the Flash, a superhero, an icon, an awesome guy. If anything, I'm extremely happy." Barry smiled before we heard a cough causing us to jump and seeing Batman.
"Barry", he said making us jump. He narrowed his eyes at Barry in disappointment and possibly anger. "He figured it out himself", Barry said as if he knew what Batman's question was without exchanging words. He wouldn't lift his look and unfortunately he shifted his gaze to me, "we need to talk." "You mean Barry right? ha ha", I chuckled pointing at Barry but that only made Batman strengthen his look which was just unnerving. "We talked to Vandal", he explained, "is there anything you'd like to say?"
"Ah", I gasped in realisation, "yeah, it's a long story. Do you want the short version or short short version?" He walked away signalling for us to follow him which we did. "What's he talking about?", Barry whispered as we walked. "I'll explain when we get to wherever he's taking us?", I whispered back. As we followed him, we got to a giant jet, coloured black and shaped like a bat. "Is that the Batplane?", I asked in awe. "Yeah, Batman doesn't have super speed or flight so he has to use it on league missions. But he never lets anyone near it.", Barry explained.
As Batman climbed up the steps that descended from the Batplane, he turned back to us, "Aaron, get in." Me and Barry shared a look of confusion. "Um Bats", Barry began. "Flash I'll see you at the watchtower.", Batman interrupted. Flash didn't argue and hung his head in defeat like if he tried to argue, the Batman would win. "Aaron", Flash said turning to me, "I'll see you soon, Batman will take care of you while I figure out what's happening. Ok?" I nodded and he ran off leaving me alone with Batman. He began climbing into the plane and I nervously followed into the passenger seat which completely blocked off any view of the front and vice versa. Wow, talk about antisocial.
Then the plane began to vibrate as I heard an increasing humming sound which was a clear sign of the plane taking off. "Put on your seatbelt.", Batman said through a hidden intercom. Not wanting to argue, I obediently secured myself into what seemed like 4 or 5 straps - the reason for which I would immediately find out. Without warning, the plane launched forward with massive speed slamming me into my seat as it kept increasing. The rush in the plane felt like a massive gush of wind from a heavy storm beating on me not allowing for a chance to speak. The next thing I notice was everything outside the window beginning to shrink, which meant we were gaining altitude which is supposed to be normal. But when we go above the clouds, which is where planes say is their causing altitude, we kept going higher without stopping. I wanted to ask why but I was finding serious trouble speaking with the rush of the plane. Then the plane began to tilt upwards without signs of stopping causing the plane to go up faster. The plane finally stopped when it was facing straight up. We were now literally rocketing upwards as the blue sky began to turn dark causing me to realise we were leaving Earth. Oh God, am I gonna be tested on or worse yet, imprisoned! As I was thinking, I didn't notice the large shadow beginning to cover the Batplane until I heard a whirring sound, causing me to look to the right to see large metal doors opening. As they did, it revealed a large room which I assume is a hangar since there was another
plane in there that resembled the Javelin which I saw so many times on the news.
As we entered, the Batplane slowed and lowered down before landing. As the plane stopped, I could still feel the rush from before for a minute or 2 after we stopped. "Come on", Batman ordered. When we reached the bottom of the steps, we began walking through corridors before coming across another familiar face, Wonder Woman. She looked at me then Batman in confusion.
"Batman what's this boy doing here?", she asked. "I'm not a boy", I said, "I'm 14." Batman ignored this and replied, "He's a person of interest." Wonder Woman nodded and walked off.
We continued on and began walking through what seemed like a canteen area which was occupied by many heroes of the justice league, all of whom ceased their conversations in confusion. "Who is this?", one of them whispered. "He's not allowed to be here unless he has powers. So what's he doing here?", another one joined in.
As we exited the canteen, the silence slowly died as conversations started again. Finally after walking for seemed like ages. We arrived at a big room where the only thing in it was a long table surrounded by chairs with the letters JL on it. Batman stopped and turned to look at me with his cold stare. "Explain.", was all he said. Knowing what he was talking about, I began to explain my situation.
"Ok the short version is my grandfather was from Krypton and his biology skipped a generation to me, I didn't know about this until my Grandma told me about it but before she could explain more she was…", I stopped for a second before continuing, "anyway afterwards Barry and Iris took me in and today I was kidnapped by Cadmus who know about me. Then I was saved by you guys." Batman didn't say anything, no reaction whatsoever. He just put a hand to his ear, "Superman can you bring Vandal Savage and the scientist to the watchtower." He was then fidgeting with what I suppose is an earcom, I suppose he's changing channels or something. "Martian Manhunter can you come to the conference room please.", I heard a small mutter from the earpiece before it turns off. Then without warning, a green man emerged from the floor which I immediately recognised as Martian Manhunter. "Cool", I whispered. Martian Manhunter looked at me and then turned to Batman.
"What is this boy doing here?", he asked. "I'm 14", I said and once again, I am ignored. "He's a person of interest.", Batman answered Martian Manhunter, "…we need you to do a memory erase on Vandal Savage and a scientist who works for him." "Of course", Martian Manhunter answered, "may I ask why?" Batman nodded and replied, "We need them to forget about the person of interest." "My name is Aaron", I said feeling offended. Before the conversation could continue, the doors behind me opened to reveal Superman with Vandal and Desmond. "Here they are Batman", Superman said as he sat the two criminals in chairs with restraints that stopped any movement except for the legs to allow for walking. "Manhunter get started", Batman commanded, "Superman, Aaron come with me." In fear of disobeying the guy, I followed and so did Superman who I noticed looked quite troubled as we walked.
We walked until we reached a large area filled with trees and flowers of all kinds which I cannot possibly identify, I wasn't a big fan of learning the names of species like that. As we arrived, we were greeted by a flash of lightning that turned to Barry. "Hey Barry", I greeted him. "Flash", Batman addressed him, "look after him, me and Superman need to discuss in private." "Sure thing", Barry replied. Batman and Superman walked off while Barry and I stayed in the garden area. "So, um", Barry began, "I haven't been told anything about what's going on, do you know?" "Ok", I replied, "so making the story shorter: my grandma fell in love with a guy from Krypton and his biology passed down to me. Now I'm here wondering what's gonna happen…and I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this."
"Aaron", Barry sighed, "it's ok. While I admit that I am surprised by this, I understand. I mean I when I got my powers, I kept them a secret from my friends too and I told them about it when I was ready. So I understand. Although this might give Iris quite the shock." We chuckled. "How much you wanna bet that she passes out at the news?", I asked causing our chuckles to increase. "I wouldn't say much", Barry replied, "Iris is tough. She'll either ask questions, or gawk at the fact that we're adopting a kryptonian." "Ha ha", I laughed, "she'll probably be like-" I make a wide open mouthed face making gasping noises making us laugh loudly despite our attempts to muffle it.
"Aaron."
We jumped and I yelped, Batman was now standing in front of us without us knowing. "How do you that?", I asked. He ignored the question which is becoming an annoying habit. "Aaron are you the one who saved Flash and Kid Flash in Central City a couple of days ago.", he asked. "Yeah", I answered, "Killer Frost and Cold were gonna kill them, I had to do something." Batman narrowed his eyes and Barry had a face of surprise. "Would you be interested in continuing this?", Batman continued. "Do you mean being a superhero?", I asked hopefully. "If you wish", Batman answered, "Superman is willing to train you in your abilities and Black Canary and I will teach you fighting techniques." I smiled, "I'd love to." "Hang on", Barry interjected, "Aaron are you sure about this? I mean this is dangerous and can get you killed…are you sure?" I thought for a minute at Barry's words but I knew my mind was already set. "Thanks for your concern Barry", I thanked, "but I want to do this." Barry nodded, "hang on a second, what about a name, he can't use Superman that's taken. How about Superboy?" "I'm not a boy, how about something like….Superlad. It means young man which I think describes me well.", I suggested chuckling a bit.
"Superlad sounds cool but it doesn't seem like a name that attracts the ladies", Barry commented, "Just saying." "So", I said, "I don't want to attract ladies, I don't even swing that way." "Sorry could you repeat that?", Barry asked surprised. "I don't like ladies. I'm gay.", I answered. "Wow!", Barry replied, "don't get me wrong, I'm not a hater. I fully support you, I'm just surprised…again. " I chuckled. This is gonna be fun!